Mandarin Orange

When you squeeze an orange, orange juice comes out – because that’s what’s inside. When you are squeezed, what comes out is what is inside. ~ Wayne Dyer

The beautiful girl in orange that shows up at the party—who is she who dares to wear orange and wear it so well? What does it say about her? Sonatta Morales made this gorgeous dress, offered at Fashion for Life this year, to catch the eye, and it does that with its exotic print and elegant assembly. From the bow at the shoulder to the sleek primmed skirt, it’s an evening gown for a woman who is bright inside and out.

My skin is a lovely Asian look from Gala Phoenix. What works for this skin is that it can be put on a shape and look just right—I have not modifed my shape in any way yet I look perfect. I love the coloring and skin tone. My jewels are courtesy of Tiffy Vella, whose aesthetic is truly based in the early 20th century with her deco motifs and lavish use of pearls. This lovely pair of earrings comes from a new set Tiffy is offering.

“Orange is the happiest color.” ~ Frank Sinatra

Hair: **Dura-Boys&Girls**16(Black) by chiaki Xue for Dura *

Skin: :GP: Honey [Light] Jasmine-Pure 1 by Gala Phoenix for Curio

Eyes: FASHISM ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – Deep Brown (ML) by Ikon Innovia for FASHISM *

Dress: Breeze by Sonatta Morales for Sonatta Morales

Jewelry: Eclectica Deco Knot bracelet-pale silver and Eclectica Deco Knot earrings-pale silver by Tiffy Vella for Eclectica *

Shoes: ! haut.monde – Gossip Pumps – Coral Rose by Teresa Republic for haut.monde *

From Blossoms

O, to take what we love inside,
to carry within us an orchard, to eat
not only the skin, but the shade,
not only the sugar, but the days, to hold
the fruit in our hands, adore it, then bite into
the round jubilance of peach.

~ From “From Blossoms” by Li-Young Lee

A favorite poem of mine is from Li-Young Lee, about eating warm summer peaches at a roadstand. The simple enjoyment of sunshine and life is so abundant in this poem I love to read it out loud just to roll the sweetness on my own tongue. (Please, click the link and read it in full yourself.) This glorious dress from Mami Jewell reminded me of the poem with its beautiful simplicity and elegant lines. Lace and an undertint of a peach color is all that’s needed to bring life to this gorgeous gown.

My glowing skin is a new one from Brendon Papp. With its luscious tone, soft dusting of freckles, elegant eyebrows and simple loveliness, it’s a welcome blank palette for makeups. I chose a sophisticated eyeliner from Kianna Noel and matched a slightly messy updo from Thora Charron. Twinkling earrings from Belle Roussel dress the look up a bit (check out the very slight bit of bling). This is a sweet young peach who has had to work a little to make herself seem more sophisticated.

There are days we live
as if death were nowhere
in the background; from joy
to joy to joy, from wing to wing,
from blossom to blossom to
impossible blossom, to sweet impossible blossom.

Hair: [LeLutka]-JULIET 2.0 hair – IrishRed by Thora Charron for [LeLutka]

Skin: !Imabee: Stigma – Olivia – Base Skin / REDbrow / by Brendon Papp for Imabee

Makeup: -[AddiCt]-Aki Eyeshadow/liner-Rust by Kianna Noel for -[AddiCt]-

Eyes: FASHISM ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – Hazel (ML) by Ikon Innovia for FASHISM *

Dress: -AZUL- Dailey/Coral (MMV2011finalist/Miss Bolivia) by Mami Jewell for -AZUL- *

Earrings: Ajisai Earrings Wht by Belle Roussel for Chop Zuey

Leather Cinderella

Once upon a time in a homestead sim far far away (probably Zindra), in a stately sculpty chateau lived a widowed gentleman and his lovely daughter, Cinderella. While he loved his daughter, he was concerned for her well-being—he thought she needed a mother to teach her how to tweak her shape and position her eyelashes. So he partnered a woman, HotMama51 Paine,  who had two daughters—Squeakieee278 Resident and 2Fly4U Afterthought and gave her an allowance for all the girls’ needs. Then he was called away to Open Sim so he left Cinderella with his new partner.

While the mother and her daughters ran around the grid looking for shoes to match their eyes, Cinderella had to resort to camping and hanging out at lucky chairs. (C does not come up often, she found.) Cinderella found herself having to pick up all the packages the sisters and mother opened and left lying around the sim, even in her small 117-prim corner. Through it all she remained ever gentle and kind, for with each dawn (4 times in 24 hours), she found new hope that some day her dream of a happy second life would come true.

One day she rezzed in to see a huge invitation with particles flying out of it in the middle of the sim. “Come to the ball—meet Prince Philip. Wear your best bling for a night of dancing and romance.” She clicked the invite and it spewed a notecard with a landmark attached. “The Big Ball, Magical Forest (128, 100, 1001)” it said. The particles were causing sim lag, so Cinderella deleted it.

“Leave that there!” sneered her stepsister, Squeakieee278. “I like how it looks.”

Her other sister, 2Fly4U snorted. “She thinks she can go too. Well, she can’t–she still has newbie eyes!”

For days the sisters flew back and forth from stores and dropped boxes from Marketplace all over the sim, trying on outfit after outfit, dressing up their avatars enough so that Prince Philip would spot them through the haze of gray and lag at the Ball. Hair, shoes, dresses, eyes, skins—all were tried on to the point the asset servers were slowed down for the rest of the grid. Cinderella continued to clean up after them, deleting prim after prim to keep the sim clean.

The evening of the ball, Cinderella settled in to sort the Midnight Mania items in her inventory while the sisters adjusted and primped. When every last prim was in place, the sisters tp’d out (or tried to—their scripted shoes and hair made it hard for them to get anywhere). The sisters finally relogged at the ball sim while Cinderella was left behind alone to delete the remainder of their packages.

Suddenly in a poof a tiny rezzed into the sim. Her name, “FairyGodmother” included the display name “The Real Deal.” A bunny, she was holding a great big wand with particles flying out of it. She waddled up to Cinderella and said, “You’re going to that ball. Sending items.. ready?”

Cinderella nodded, confused but opened her inventory. A folder dropped in and Cinderella donned it. A beautiful dress with an ethereal pink-tinged ballgown rezzed on her body. FairyGodmother fluttered up to cinch the laces on the back of the leather corset a little tighter and fluff the material at the bodice. “Mami Jewell,” the bunny smiled. “Only the best for you dear. And my, leather suits you.”

A wave of the magic wand and poof, a skin appeared in Cinderella’s Body Parts. Cinderella dragged it on and gasped and her new face and body. Her eyeshadow glistened, her lips puckered in a full juicy smile. The bunny grinned (as bunnies do) and said, “esra Noyes—quite exotic, quite sexy.”

The bunny tossed another object at her and Cinderella threw it on. Wild, windblown hair from Mirja Mills. Cinderella felt suddenly glamorous. Another object appeared and upon putting it on, Cinderella discovered it was an exquisitely ornate choker from Abraxxa Anatine.

The bunny squinted. “For goodness sake, you have NEWBIE eyes. Who let you walk around like that?” A pair of eyes popped into inventory and Cinderella double clicked. She went from glassy-eyed stare to soulful and sexy in the time they took to rez thanks to Ikon Innovia.

The bunny dusted off her paws. “My work is done here. You do realize it’s not about getting Prince Charming–it’s about looking good. You know how to teleport–the rest is up to you.” Cinderella restored the landmark from trash, took a deep breath and double clicked. Finding the rest of her fantasy was up to her….

“A dream is a wish your heart makes….”

Hair: .:EMO-tions:. * WINDBLOWN* /deepblack by Mirja Mills for EMO-tions *

Skin: DREAM INK-SF-ARIANNA-D-4-HAIRBASE by esra Noyes for Dream Ink

Eyes: FASHISM ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – Silver&Rust 3 (ML) by Ikon Innovia for FASHISM *

Dress: -AZUL- Suzana/Sakura by Mami Jewell for –AZUL- *

Necklace: EarthStones Gothique Choker Locket – Gold/Opal Mosaic (BOX) by Abraxxa Anatine for EarthStones *

Champagne

“Three be the things I shall never attain: envy, content and sufficient Champagne.”  ~ Dorothy Parker

Champagne—a heady, sparkling, rare—not unlike a romantic evening with a new someone special. This evening gown from Mami Jewell is the ideal dress for such an evening with its elegant lace bodice and smooth silk skirt. Mami makes the dress even more special with huge blossoming roses slung below the hips and trimmed with black lace. The dress moves gloriously.

Someone whose taste I respect suggested I wear a light blonde hair with this dress. I chose Onyx LeShelle’s platinum blonde in an updo, which is striking with the dress and against Monicuzza Babenco’s lovely preview skin for Sole. My almost-retro jewelry is an older set from Cora Lu.

“Champagne makes you feel like it’s Sunday and better days are just around the corner.” ~ Marlene Dietrich

Hair: Maitreya Siri – Platinum by Onyx LeShelle for Maitreya

Skin: *YS & YS* Sole Reborn – EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW  4 TDR with *YS & YS* Sole Reborn LightBrows by Monicuzza Babenco for *YS & YS*

Eyes: FASHISM ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – Pale Clover Green (ML) by Ikon Innovia for FASHISM *

Dress: -AZUL- Kathe/Champagne by Mami Jewell for -AZUL-

Jewelry: P.C; Antique Pearl Choker and P.C; Antique Pearl Earrings by Cora Lu for Paper Couture

Shoes: (Shiny Things) Delphine pumps – sand by Fallingwater Cellardoor for (Shiny Things) *

Tragedy

Some days I am convinced we come to SL to create the tragedy and drama we don’t have in our own lives. This doesn’t diminish the pain people truly experience—the pain of the death of a loved one or lost hopes or the pain of physical illness. Rather, we come to SL to make stories that are human-based rather than based on natural causes. That’s why drama has such a good hold here—it’s what propels the narratives in our minds.

Sascha Frangilli’s newest creation—Wicked Swan—is a perfect accessory for your tragic moments. With its huge full skirt, subtly glittering brocade texture, elegant bodice and opera-length gloves, this beauty will fill all your nights with the drama you desire.

Add to the drama Hart Larsson’s newest skin, Candy. These have been several months in development and Hart, who enjoys painting in his other life, has crafted beautiful and evocative skins. This make up in particular, matches the drama ideal. I especially appreciate the subtlety of the pushup option (which I wear here). It’s perfectly appropriate for a bodice such as this to show more lift and this option is not crass or overdone.

“Tragedy is a tool for the living to gain wisdom, not a guide by which to live.” ~ Robert Francis Kennedy

Hair: Tukinowaguma Jelena ebony by KateForster Akina for Tukinowaguma

Skin: [PXL] Candy NAT Drama DEB with [PXL] Candy NAT PushUp by Hart Larsson for PXL Creations *

Dress: SAS – Wicked Swan Formal Version by Sascha Frangilli for Sascha’s Designs *

Jewelry: Donna Flora ASIA black set by Squinternet Larnia for Donna Flora

Little Black Dress

Read any fashion magazine and the key word for any woman’s wardrobe is the Little Black Dress or LBD. Simple in cut and style, it serves to make a sophisticated sort of blank slate upon which a woman can write fashion.

Delora Starbrook, normally known for her sexy camisks and silks, has been venturing into the dressmaking business as of late, and this little black number (one of several colors she offers), fulfills all the requirements for a good LBD. First we have the shorter length that thankfully doesn’t venture into mini-skirt range. Then we have the beautifully textured bodice leading around back to a sexy but not risque V’d back. Delora chooses to use one prim for the skirt and it fits well, making the entire silhouette elegant and sexy.

Hair is from an increasing product offering by BlueStarRUI Villota (who also made my terrific nails, scripted especially for model posing). Specializing in bobs of various lengths and hat-topped styles, BlueStarRUI offers some terrific cuts for the lady who wants more elegance than fluff. My necklace and bracelet by Rama Anatine are an elegant accompaniment to the dress with the mix of pearls and metal—a very classic adornment.

Finally these pumps by Nardya Rousselot with their clever little strap and almost spectator pump pattern provide a little flair to the LBD. Nardya always seems to have an incredible sense of style and elegance in her designs—these shoes are no exception. Black pumps would not do for this dress; colored pumps would stand out too much. This black and white pump is the perfect solution.

A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous. ~ Coco Chanel

Hair: [ Love Soul ] Hair*039-A*Auburn by BlueStarRUI Villota for [ Love Soul ]

Skin: []::Tuli::[] Eva (tone 5/bl) 09a by Tuli Asturias for Tuli *

Dress: *HD* Alexa – Black by Delora Starbrook for Haven Designs *

Necklace and Bracelet: “R.A.Crystal”*Frola*W.P.necklace and “R.A.Crystal”*Frola*W bracelet by Rama Anatine for “R.A.Crystal”

Nails: [ Love Soul ] Posing nail*Oval-Natural* by BlueStarRUI Villota for [ Love Soul ]

Shoes: NX-Nardcotix Nuria MJ B&W by Nardya Rousselot for Nardcotix

Black Orchid

I read a lot about the day to night look but don’t see a lot of it in SL. Come on. We don’t have to leave our offices to go to an evening party. And how hard is it to just sift through folders to find something? No wrinkles, no messing around.

However, it’s an intriguing thought, and LeeZu Baxter gives us an answer with her Elisabeta jacket and dress. I show first the jacket over a pair of her BritPants. Clearly LeeZu has copped some textures from the BritPants and there is nothing wrong with this. In fact, it provides a consistency through LeeZu’s collection and allows us to mix and match, as I have done here, putting her very groovy pants from April, 2009, with this new top.

I love how the top slips up around the buttock on the right side—very sexy. And the fins on the top echo the fins on the pants. The neckline is graceful and leads to a sexy deep cut back.

I set the look up with a skin from Minnu Palen. Minnu’s skins are truly “model” skins. They look best in a well lit environment with glamorous accoutrements. The dramatic eye make-up, the matte skin, the glossy full lips and the absolutely stunning eyebrows make this the model look, as Minnu has always intended. Do we all need to walk around SL looking like models? No. But if this is our desire in this second life, this skin will take you there.

Switch to nighttime and Minnu’s skin becomes less a statement of prettiness and more a statement of boldness. I show here the Elisabeta gown from LeeZu in its full glory. Again, we see the same top but this time it wraps around in a graceful silhouette with the slim brocade skirt and fish tail prim skirt. The once casual-seeming cuffs bunched around the wrists are now airy.

Most brilliant is the bustle with its big dark almost prehistoric flowers bunched around the back. The low cut back, once just sexy for day time, is now elegant and the entire silhouette is complex but not fussily complicated (due to LeeZu’s use of busy textures with muted subtle shades, as I have mentioned before). This is couture at its finest.

The subtly sweet dark perfume of the black orchid:

Look 1:

Hair: :Liriope: ELN black by Ilze Erin for Liriope

Skin: [LeLutka]-IFElight-makeup3(D Brows)hairbase by Minnu Palen for LeLutka

Dress: [LeeZu!] NOiR Van Elisabeta Dress Version by LeeZu Baxter for LeeZu! *

Neck bow: =DeLa*= Ribbon “Keira” on Chest by Kuranosuke Kamachi  for =DeLa*=

Look 2:

Hair: delora black by Queue Marlowe for Analog Dog

Skin: [LeLutka]-IFElight-makeup3(D Brows)hairbase by Minnu Palen for LeLutka

Top: [LeeZu!] NOiR Van Elisabeta Jacket Version by LeeZu Baxter for LeeZu! *

Pants: [LeeZu!] BritPants /black by LeeZu Baxter for LeeZu! *

Boots: .*Courtisane*. La Vivien /Blacks by Enktan Gully and LeeZu Baxter for Courtisane *

Are You Here

There is a distinct theme running through my blogs lately. Do you get it yet?

To continue the theme, I show this glorious dress by pixivor Allen. This beautiful piece is a combination of a cabbage rose print and black lace—a provocative and elegant mix. The dress comes with a train, a larger skirt and then this thin silhouette, which I prefer as the larger pieces show alpha texture conflict. The dress comes with shoes (which are hidden but there are there are quite cute—trust me). And with that, it’s a good buy.

I write about and show Truth Hawks’ hair a lot. He sends me his new releases—I choose to use them in my blog as they suit. The thing is that they often seem to suit. The textures are really well done (check the wisps off the curls on this hair), the styles are versatile and usable (sometimes coming with color changing bows or ribbons as this one does), and they are fairly priced. I am pretty strict about not putting in my blog anything I wouldn’t consider a good value. Truth’s work suits my criteria.

And he comes to lay me down in a garden of tuberoses/ When he comes around there’s nothing more to imagine /Just tuberoses/ Tuberoses ~ “Are You Here” by Corinne Bailey Rae

Hair: >TRUTH< Nadia – burgundy by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH<

Skin: []::Tuli::[] Bella (sunkissed/br) F.Y.L.O. red by Tuli Asturias for Tuli *

Dress including Shoes: (AlaFolie) FLORALIE 1 by pixivor Allen for AlaFolie

Necklace: aluinn- Bound pearls- Rose Necklace by Bratty Slade for aluinn

Ring: (Elate!) Pink Rose Ring by Kellie Iwish for Elate

Purple Prose

I am still rummaging through my closet for things to recommend as gifts for your beautiful lady on Valentine’s. We will get past this evening gown phase soon and get on to the better stuff soon… I promise. But we can’t neglect to understand that ladies want to feel beautiful and want to be wooed and courted for all their feminine graces.

This beautiful gown from Mimi Jewell would likely set any heart pounding. Imagine opening the folder for this and putting it on… with its graceful neckline complimented by a high collar, its trained skirt, lace cap sleeves, floral motif, and most importantly, sexy wrinkles and highlights showing a woman’s most beautiful curves, this gown would thrill any recipient. It will thrill her partner too with its sexy open back, cut down to there.

I compliment the gown with a perfect palette provided by Tricky Boucher. Tricky’s latest line—Alyson—shows how far Tricky has come as an artist. With its full sensuous lips (beautifully pink and perfectly glossy), subtlely shaded eyes and perfectly trimmed eyebrows plus the glowing décolletage, this skin is glorious.

Beauty and grace:

Hair: PE Portia Kohl by Aemilia Case for Philotic Energy

Skin: -Belleza- Alyson SK 12 by Tricky Boucher for Belleza *

Dress: -AZUL- Linda –Amethyst by Mami Jewell for Azul

Earrings: Zivanit Earring RFL2009 special by Alienbear Gupte for Alienbear Design

Today’s recommendation: “A Love Story” by Thomas Dybdahl (“Doesn’t it feel good to know you’ve been loved?”)

Heart of Gold

Number four in the series of gifts to give your loved one this Valentine’s to make her feel beautiful.

Nicky Ree has graced this blog before with her elegant and beautiful gowns. I would be remiss in forgetting to bring her into the picture. Nicky’s gowns are copy/no trans. If you would like to gift one of her pieces, you have several means: give your sweetie a gift certificate, which are for sale at Nicky’s, purchase on XStreetSL, or drop Nicky a notecard and ask her to send it.

That being said, this particular gown would be a glamorous addition to any woman’s wardrobe. With it’s glimmering, shimmering textures, beautiful shaped skirt, and Nicky’s characteristic sexy highlights and wrinkles (check that back end), this will please the most discriminating lady and her partner.

And Nicky doesn’t stop there (she never does). Included in this package is a mini skirt with flirty short prim skirt and a sexy swimsuit. Buying a Nicky Ree piece rarely means you just get the gown—you get a whole set of pieces that enhance your wardrobe and provide several scenarios for getting around the grid.

I show this gown with SinSister Charity’s spectacular ama garijus skin for Abyss. I am so pleased that a skin maker has made a skin from bottom up for a woman of color rather than tinting a caucasian skin brown or tan. This beautiful skin shows the features that make this particular lady gorgeous including a somewhat Eastern Asian eye, a fuller nose and wider nostrials and fuller lips. 

For your precious gem:

Hair: >TRUTH< Cyndi – crow by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: [ ama garijus ][ sunset ][ vixen ] by SinSister Chastity for <TheAbyss>

Dress: *DNR* Mui Magic Gown, Dresses N Swimsuit Yellow by Nicky Ree for Designing Nicky Ree

Earrings: *kraftika jewelry No 130 Earrings by Anuitka Barthelmess for *kraftika

Shoes: *GF* Ribbon Slingback Shoes -gold- by Cerberus Noel for G Field

Sweet song of the day: “I Idolize You” by Lizz Wright